News Release

Friday, March 27, 2009

A Cold Case Murder Suspect has been Identified, 29-Years Later The Public's Help is needed to locate Him

Los Angeles: An intensive cold case homicide investigation has led to the identity of a prime suspect in a decades old homicide.

On January 19, 1980, 39-year-old Lois Hale was found stabbed to death in her home in the 6000 block of Lankershim Boulevard. She was found, by her then 15-year-old daughter. In spite of an exhaustive investigation that spanned decades, a suspect was never identified.

In August 2006 two tenacious North Hollywood Homicide Detectives, Thomas Townsend and Timothy Kirkpatrick, began reviewing the case again. A fresh look at all of the evidence found at the crime scene, including photographs, the coroners report, fingerprints and DNA and using new technology and more extensive criminal databases, new information was found that could potentially identify a suspect in the brutal slaying and sexual assault. Witnesses were also re-interviewed and new witnesses were found.

Detective Townsend and Detective Kirkpatrick’s diligence paid off. Guadalupe Gonzalez Jimenez was linked by forensic evidence as the person responsible for the murder of Lois Hale. Jimenez would have been 24-years-old at the time of the crime, making him 53 years of age at present. He is known to have ties to the Northwest area of the United States, but was originally from Mexicali, Baja California. He has two very specific characteristics by which he can be recognized; he is missing the right tip of his index finger and has “Mambro” tattooed on his left bicep. Jimenez has held jobs ranging from machinist to auto upholsterer.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jimenez is asked to call North Hollywood Homicide Detectives at 818-623-4075. After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD. Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org. All tips are anonymous.